Georgy Zhukov

If the nation only knew their hands dripped with innocent blood, it would have met them not with applause but with stones.

Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov (December 1 [O.S. November 19] 1896 – June 18, 1974) was a Soviet military commander who, in the course of World War II, led the Red Army to liberate the Soviet Union from the Axis Powers' occupation, to advance through much of Eastern Europe, and to conquer Germany's capital, Berlin. Zhukov remained a popular figure in the Soviet Union until his death in 1974 although by his own admission he was much better dealing with military matters than with politics. He was buried with full military honors.

It is a fact that under equal conditions, large-scale battles and whole wars are won by troops which have a strong will for victory, clear goals before them, high moral standards, and devotion to the banner under which they go into battle.

Quoted in "The Military Quotation Book" - Page 15 - by James Charlton - 2002

The nature of encounter operations required of the commanders limitless initiative and constant readiness to take the responsibility for military actions.

Quoted in "The Military Quotation Book" - Page 49 - by James Charlton - 2002

If we come to a minefield, our infantry attacks exactly as it were not there.

To General Eisenhower, 1945. Quoted in "Russia: The People and the Power" - Page 207 - by Robert G. Kaiser - History - 1984

Nazis did not expect Soviet resistance to be so strong. The deeper they moved into this country's territory, the more fierce it became. When Hitler's armies approached Moscow, every man and woman here thought it imperative to resist the enemy. And that resistance grew by the day. The enemy was sustaining heavy losses, one after another. In fact, Hitler's best troops perished here. Nazis believed the Red Army was not capable of defending Moscow, but their schemes failed.

Quoted in "The Voice of Russia" - Copyright 2005 - by Olga Troshina

Generalissimo Stalin directed every move... made every decision... He is the greatest and wisest military genius who ever lived...

Here they found real war, but they were not ready for it. They were used to easy victories. This deprived them of flexibility on the one hand, of tenacity on the other. For them, war was merely maneuvers. They have neither cavalry nor skiers, their tanks cannot pass over the snow.

Zhukov was the only person who feared no one. He was not afraid of Stalin.

Marshal Timoshenko

Zhukov's right arm, which once was enlisted in a just cause, will battle no more. Sleep! Russian history holds, as is fitting, Space for the exploits of those who, though bold, marching triumphant through foreign cities, trembled in terror when they came home.

Joseph Brodsky, poem written in memory of Zhukov in 1974.

Zhukov was the most successful commander of World War II, who fell from grace under Khrushchev, but never lost his place in the pantheon of Soviet heroes.